Herpes and 4 month old

[PickledElectricity]

I'm having a bit of a crisis/panic.

I have what I think is a cold sore for the first time in my life. I am 34 and have never had them. Didn't think I'd ever been exposed. I'm also on maternity leave (obviously) and my toddler has been off nursery all week. My partner sleeps in a separate room atm and we are like ships in the night.

I noticed a spot on my lip yesterday and popped it, thinking it was a clogged pore or something. Today I have 2 and they're itching. I googled and it keeps coming back as likely herpes 😫

Aside from the fact that I have no idea where on earth this came from, I have been very affectionate with my 4 month old baby. I kiss him all the time, kiss his hands (which he's been chewing because he's teething), nose, chin, we co-sleep most nights etc.

My toddler has had his hands in my mouth (he thinks it's funny to "pop" mummy's fish face, it's a great game).

I have felt run down and had a headache, I put this down to parenting 2 young children alone this week, but apparently this is a symptom as well!

I've had conjunctivitis recently and was on antibiotics a couple of weeks ago for a clogged follicle that was infected on my scalp.

I have been very run down with the two children and the little one doesn't let me sleep more than 2 hours in the night.

Obviously extremely worried about neonatal herpes. What am I supposed to do? Just watch him for spots? His 16 week vaccinations are due this week too.

I'm going to go to the pharmacy tomorrow but the last 2 hours have had me in an absolute spin.

Sorry no idea why photo didn't attach.

Yeah that looks like a typical sold sore - don’t panic yourself too much; maternal antibodies will have provided baby with some protection. Cold sores are most contagious while weepy, you can buy little patches to go over them and protect them from touching it.

That does look very much like herpes. I would actually contact 111 to be honest, hopefully they can set your mind at rest.

Baby also vomited tonight, which is unusual as he's not a sicky baby. But he was on his tummy after a feed so I'm not sure what to think.

He also did a terrible eggy fart, which again, is unusual.

Don't really want to call 111 in the middle of the night as they tend to send you to A&E for anything regarding small babies.

He doesn't seem to have a temperature or anything else and no spots yet.

Please try not to stress. I have had numerous cold sores and mine are apocalyptic type ones that make my whole lower lip blow up. When my youngest was a baby I was severely run down and sleep deprived and had them a lot. She was a bad sleeper, often in bed with me and I used to wear a mask to cover them but it was really hard to keep her from touching my face and she did a lot. I’d also kissed her a few times not realising I was getting one. You probably won’t pass it on. You can buy oral acyclovir from online pharmacies to get rid as quickly as possible. It’s worth having them in your medicine cabinet and taking as soon as you feel the tingle

You can buy patches that cover the sores and help them to heal faster (and reduce the possibility of others catching the virus). They’re made by Compeed and you can get them in any pharmacy, Boots etc.

There will only be maternal antibodies if this is a reactivation of a previous infection. If this is the primary infection, as possibly suggested by also feeling under the weather, then there won't have been any maternal antibodies to cross the placenta. On the plus side it would no longer count as neonatal herpes simplex, which improves odds somewhat, but can still be very nasty.

For now, avoid any more exposure from your lips to his hands/mouth. If he shows any signs whatsoever of being unwell, he would need to be seen promptly, and might well need IV aciclovir (an antiviral medication).